12 Steps of Recovery: How These Programs Work

The 12 Steps are intended to be followed in sequence and in their entirety. You consent to receive SMS notifications and promotions from Addictionresource. Dodes said that AA does not work for up to 90 percent of participants. He argues difference between crack and coke that some studies showing that AA is useful are filled with scientific errors. The 5 to 10 percent of participants who achieve or maintain sobriety through AA benefit from the camaraderie and structure of the program, he said.

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ASL – Tradition Nine

One is that some people might not feel comfortable with religion or spirituality. Rather than accepting the concept of powerlessness and surrendering to a higher power, they might prefer the idea of taking action and responsibility themselves. Another possible downside is the lack of trained professionals leading the groups. Later in the 20th century, other programs followed, and the founders modeled them after AA.

Criticisms and Controversies Surrounding 12-Step Programs

For instance, they may find a greater sense of community by joining a spiritual or religious group. These can be healthy coping mechanisms someone turns to as they progress through recovery. Working the 12 steps may take some members a few weeks and it may take other members a year or more. Each sponsor practices their own unique way of working the 12 step program with their sponsee and some see the importance in working the 12 steps as thoroughly and quickly as possible. A 12 step call is when members of a 12 step fellowship have a conversation with someone who is still struggling with addiction.

Origin and History of 12-Step Programs

1. That said, there are an estimated 2 million AA members worldwide, with even more people belonging to similar organizations.
2. The success rate of the 12-step program cannot be calculated with certainty.
3. The content available on 12steppers.org is not medical advice and is strictly for informational purposes and is written/reviewed by active 12 step members.
4. The 12-step programs can be traced back as early as 1935 when the first twelve-step fellowship was founded.

Wellbriety brings a unique perspective by integrating traditional Indigenous wisdom with modern recovery practices. Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery is one such program. It’s a science-based framework that emphasizes self-empowerment and self-reliance. SMART Recovery relies on tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing to help individuals manage addictive behaviors.

Further reading

Together with Dr. Bob, who also fought his battles with alcoholism, they formed the first group of Alcoholics Anonymous. Their initial success led to the publication of “The Big Book” in 1939, which laid out the framework of the 12-Step Program and is still used today. Whether you’re grappling with alcoholism, substance abuse, or any other dependency, a 12-Step Program can offer hope and a structured path towards a healthier, sober life.

What are the « Twelve Steps »?

Members of the programs run them, and they involve low or no costs. The 12 steps are also used in recovery programs for addictions other than alcohol. Our goal is to provide information on all 12 step programs whether they’re for addicts themselves or families & friends of addicts. Below, you’ll see a list of 12 step programs with a brief synopsis of what each program is about and who it is for.

Releasing the negative behaviors identified in the previous steps is a massive hurdle. For many, discussion with “another human being” will occur in their support group. The fellowship of a 12 Step program comes into full effect here.

People without addiction issues can often not stand up to this open and honest look at themselves. However, it is indeed what will make the turn from being clean and being sober. You now know that you can not control your addiction(s) alone, and there is a Higher Power that will help you.

All of these adaptations allow the 12 step process to more accessible for teens in the changing world. If you wish to contact a specific rehab facility then find a specific rehab facility using our treatment locator page or visit SAMHSA.gov. “Direct amends” means one should give an in-person apology, attempts to fix the harm, and request forgiveness. Eventually, one has less guilt and more motivation to improve the lives of others. Those in recovery can move forward “willing” to improve their social connections.

You may see this process labeled with spiritual terms like “prayer” and “meditation.”  This is why reframing these concepts is essential to your knowledge of the 12 Steps. Although the program was primarily based on spiritual beliefs and addressed God, now each participant can interpret it differently. The understanding of “God” in Alcoholics Anonymous has broadened a lot, and now participants can refer to any Higher Power. a closer look at substance use and suicide american journal of psychiatry residents’ journal Because people are in a vulnerable state of mind in the early stages of recovery, it is highly recommended that people do not become romantically involved with their sponsors. All meetings are confidential, and members are discouraged from speaking about another person’s story with anyone outside of the group. A 2015 NA survey also found that 79 percent of U.S. members regularly used alcohol, the most widely used substance.

These real-life testimonials shed light on the program’s profound impact, not just on addiction, but on personal growth and healing. Although it began with a focus on alcohol, the 12-Step methodology has been adapted to assist those dealing with various addictions, including narcotics, gambling, and food. A 12-Step Program is a framework designed to assist people in overcoming addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. Nevertheless, some people may still find this approach unsuitable. For example, they don’t want to rely on Higher Power in their recovery but rather on themselves. There are many types of such non-12-step programs, which are based on research and tend to change from time to time as research progresses.

All that one may think, say, or do should be noted and processed. By taking notes on the effects of one’s addictive behaviors, they can identify what must change. “God” is the higher Power an addict will seek help from, as mentioned in Step Two. Since addiction cannot be controlled internally, external help is required to proceed. Where the previous step may have spurred questions around being powerless to the addiction, the Second Step aims to show them a way forward. This step is structured around the belief that one is “powerless” over one’s chronic disease.

They are not abstract theories; they are based on the trial-and-error experience of early members of A.A. They describe the attitudes and activities that these early members believe were important in helping them to achieve sobriety. Experience suggests, however, that members who make an earnest effort to follow these Steps and to apply them in daily living seem to get far more out of A.A. It has been said that it is virtually impossible to follow all the Steps literally, day in and day out. While this may be true, in the sense that the Twelve Steps represent an approach to living that is totally new for most alcoholics, many A.A.

It reduces the number of people in their life who engage in substance misuse while increasing those who abstain from it. This social shift results in decreased exposure to activities and behaviors relating to substance use and increased opportunities to dangers of quitting alcohol cold turkey take part in unrelated activities. The organization lists several online and in-person meetings available in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It also has a Facebook group and the related group Women for Sobriety, which is based on the S.O.S. principles.

In fact, it appears that the so-called fellowship, or social benefit, is one of the aspects of the program that most closely links to abstinence. A 2020 review found that Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step facilitation treatments produced benefits that were similar to other treatments. The research also found that these 12-step approaches were superior to other methods for maintaining continuous abstinence and reducing remission rates. Such programs are also a cost-effective way to deliver treatment. Believing in this higher power may help someone find meaning in their life outside of addiction.